Type-writing machine.



OQB. CORCORAN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1914v Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

ire sra 'lt t hlli l @FiFlQE.

CORNELIUS B. GORCORAN, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application fiIed July 1,1914. Serial in. 848,382.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. ConnnLrUs B. Conco- RAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Bronx, in the county of Bronx, city and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-lvriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices applied to the cylindrical platens of typewritine niachines for holding thereto stiff cards and other work-pieces, especially a stencil card consisting of a small sheet of stencil paper mounted -upon a rectangular frame or border, which is usually very stiff and on that account unmanageable in connection with the platen of a typewriter.

According to the present improvements, the card-holding plate, frame, or base is mounted upon the cylindrical platen. and extends around the platen a su'liicient distance to accommodate a device of the size of an ordinary stencil address card; and upon said base is hinged a clamp, whereby the card is held upon the platen. This clamp may be in the form of a rectangular frame or leaf which curves around the platen; its dimensions substantially agreeing with the dimensions of the stencil address card. so that the sides and ends of this leaf or clamp overlie the thick frame of the card, to clamp the same upon the platen. 'lhi's clamp is held firmly down upon the card by means of latches; "and these latches, which may project considerably from the platen, are mounted to engage the free end or side of the hinged leaf; the arrangement being such that the bottom of the card is adiacent to the hinge of the leaf, while the top of the card is adjacent to the latches. When a card is placed in the holder and the latches are closed to lock the leaf down. the operator rotates the platen backwardly to bring the stencil to position for writing the first line on the top border thereof, or upon the upper part of the Stencil plate itself. At this time the projecting latches are not far enough down and around the platen to foul upon the feed rolls which usually run upon the under side of the platen. Then the platen is advanced line by line until the last line is written upon the card, at which time the latches have not been carried so far Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Feb. e, i iti.

around the top and back of the platen as to become fouled upon the bottom pressure rolls at the rear of the platen. The portion of the base or holder to which said clamp is hinged is made to fit very snugly to the platen, and is preferably beveled or chamfered to pass readily between the platen and bottom feed rolls. Said bottom rolls are not necessary in writing the stencil address cards, but the whole device is preferably made in a manner to be readily detachable from the platen, so that the machine can be used for ordinary correspondence.

The curved frame or base is held upon the platen by a novel device, which comprises a tongue upon one end of the frame and a catch upon the other end thereof. Against one end of the platen is secured a disk having around its edge a row of apertures. into any one of which said tongue may be inserted and caught. At the other end of the platen is a similar disk having; similar apertures into which may project a latch which is mounted upon this end of the frame. These disks adjustably hold the device upon the platen in any desired rotative position thereon relatively to its printing surface, and also prevent edgewise shifting of said device upon the platen. The means for securing the device to the platen may be employed with other forms of card holders and the like.

Other features and advantages Will hereinafter appear.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a platen to which my improved stencil card-holding device is attached, a portion of the platen frame and the paper shelf of an Underwood type-Writing machine being shown in this View. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of thestencilccardholding device, detached, showing the hinged leaf thereof as swung open. F ig. 3 is a partial or broken away front elevation of a platen. showing the means whereby the stencil card-holding device is connected to the platen. Fig. i is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the spring latches employed in fastening the hinged leaf or cover of the stencil card-holding device.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the spring latch employed with the stencil card-holding'device to secure it to'the platen. F g. 6 1s a perspective elevation of a stencil work-piece, partly in section, and shown as curved by the action of the holding device, causing said stencil work-piece to conform to the curvature of the platen.

'lhe stencil card-holder which is the subject of this application, is illustrated as connected to a platen 1 which is mounted on an axle the platen frame 3 and thepaper shelf at of an Underwood typewriting machine being merely indicated in the drawing, it being unnecessary to illustrate other parts of a typewriting machine because the card-holding device in question is detachahly and adjustably supported entirely upon the platen.

The stencil card-holding device consistsin the main ofa'plate 5, to which is hinged a leaf or frame (3; means whereby said plate is ad justably and detachably connected with i the platen, and means whereby the leaf or 'side edges 10.

frame is adapted when closed, to accommodate a stencil card and to secure the same to printing position upon the platen for conyenicnt use and for quick release from the holder.

The plate 5 is a little longer than the platen, being provided at its ends with attaching means to be described l'iercinafter, and said plate is curved to conform to the cylindrical. surface of the platen, said plate transversely describing the segment of a circle, so that it extends around a suliicient portion of the platen surface to enable it to carry a card or stencil workpiece of the usual size, as for use in an Addressograph machine. Said plate 5 has a central opening or cut-away portion which may comprise a rectangular space 7 through said plate to expose the platen, said space being bounded by a top bar 8, a lower bar 9, and Said space 7 is intended to be of sufficient area to receive a, stencil work-piece in such manner that the stencil with its frame, may lie upon the platen surface; and the leaf or frame 6, which is hinged to the plate 5, as at 11 at the lower portion of said plate, is intended to clamp down upon said work-piece, and to be secured at its free end to the plate to hold said work-piece in position. The 'leaf or frame (5 may be rectangular in form and have an upper bar 12, and side bars 13,

- adapted respectively to close upon the upper bar 8 and sides 10 of the plate 5, while the lower bar 14 of said leaf'or frame may comprise the hinging portion thereof, and serve as the lower engaging and retaining bar for the stencil work-piece. The leaf or frame 6 also has transverse-bars 15 at each end of the rectangular space 16 in.

said leaf or frame which coincides with the space 7 in the plate 5, for the exposure of the work-niece, said bars 15 serving to lie over the'hde bars or portions of the" menace stencil frame or card, in clamping the latter upon the platen.

The plate 5 has tongues 17 extending inwardly from the opposite sides 10 thereof, near the lower bar 9 said tongues being slightly olf-sct with relation to the platen, so that the somewhat thick material forming the frame ofthe stencil work-piece or card, may be inserted between said tongues and the platen, whcnfitting said work-piece within the holder, whereby said stencil work-piece will be temporarily held and may have its bottom edge gaged as against the hinge ll of the leaf or frame that is swung open for the introduction of said Work-piece. The leaf or frame is then swung back upon its hinge to pressand secure the work-piece to the platen in pos'ition for writing thereon. Said leaf or frame has mounted upon the inner surface of its bars 15, spring fingers 19, whose free ends extend normally apart from said leaf or frame being inclined toward the upper bar 8 of the plate 5, that they may meet said bar 8 in advance of the bar 12. In practice, with the stencil work-piece in place, the fingers 19 will contact with the upper bar of the stencil frame in closing the leaf or frame, and will thereby urge said workpiece frame toward the platen and remove it from the path of the bar 12, preventing the top of the stencil frame from interfering with said bar 12 which continues its closing movement until it reaches and lies upon the bar 8 of the plate. As thus closed down or clamped upon the plate 5, the leaf or frame causesthe spring fingers 19 to snugly hold with their pressure the stencil frame against the platen surface, thereby taking up any slack which might otherwise exist between the outer surface of the stencil frame and the transverse bars 15, and assuringa close conforming contact between the work-picce and the platen;

The lower bar 14' and the side bars 15 of the leaf or frame 6 maybe of less thickness than the side bars 13 and the upper bar-12 of said leaf or frame, to provide a recess at the inner surface of said leaf or frame to accommodate the offset tongues 17 and the frame of the stencil work-piece which is usually thicker than thev material from which the plate 5 is made, this rcccssor seat in the inner surface of the leaf or frame allowing the bars 12 and 13 of the leaf or frame to lie closely against the opposed surface portions of the plate 5, whereby the the leaf or frame 6 are spring latches 20 adapted to reciprocate in bearings 21, each, 30

latch having a spring 22 to hold it normally so if rejected in the path of aside edge of the eaf or frame 6, and each latch having a finger-piece 23 by which it may be retracted. Thenoses of said latches are beveled as at 24:, to form cams so that the leaf or frame in closing past said latches, by engaging comes locked automatically .Whenidcsired to open the leaf or frame 6 with said cams, thereby automatically rctracts the latches, to be caught thereby when said leaf or frame is seated in closed position. In this manner the leaf or frame bein closing.

, part of'the engaging means in attaching the plate 5 to the platen, and an annular space or clearance 27 is provided between the perimeter of'each platen end and the adjacent disk 25 to allow access respectively to the apertures in one disk and the inner surface i of the other disk," by cooperating means upon the plate, theannular spaces or clearances being suitably provided as by he veling or chamfering off the peripheral edge of the platen.

'ing 30, a sprin wvardly, and a linger-piece 32 by which it The engaging means upon the plate 5 may vcomprise a downwardly and outwardly bent tongue 28 at one end of said plate 5 capable of convenient insertion in any one of the apertures 26 in a disk, the tongue being introduced to said aperture through clearance 27. As thus engaged, the plate 5 may lie-over the full longitudinalextent of the platen and at its opposite end is provided with a rearwardly turned bearing lug 29 carrying a reciprocating latch 30, in hous- 31 urging said latch inmay be retracted. The latch 30 has a beveled nose 33 whereby it may strike an edge of the disk 25 in the closing of the plate 5 upon the platen surface, thereby retracting said latch until it is free to enter an aperture 2G in the disk in longitudinal alinement with the aperture in the other "disk with which the tongue 28 is engaged, thereby locking the plate 5 upon the platen. In order that the latch 30 may not rotate out of its operative latching position inits bearings, suitable guide means mav be provided, such as'a p1n'34, carr1ed by the finger-piece 32, and slidable in an aperture therefor in thelug 29.. ltwlllthe'refore be evident that upon engaging the tongue 28 in aperture 26 at one end of the platen and pressing the other end of the plate 5 over-the opposite end of the platen, the latch 33 will automatically lock the plate 5 upon the platen; to be quickly released by merely withdraw ing the latch 30 through its finger-piece 32.

That portion of the platen printing surface which is exposed through-the plate 5 and leaf or frame 6, and which in the operation of this device, forms the impression surface of the Work-piece, being limited in area, would from continual use become Worn and unserviceable, and it is therefore desirable to shift the woriepicce holder around the platen at'dilferent times in order that different portions of the platen printing surface may be utilized. It will be readily appreciated that the engaging means here disclosed, whereby the workpiece holding. device is connected to the platen, allow for this circumferential adjustment in a very convenient manner, because it is onlyxnecessary to remove the latch 30 and tongue 28, and, after shifting the plate 5 to any desired position around the platen surface, to recngage said tongue and latch in their longitudinally alined apertures corresponding to the new location of adjustment of the holder.

It is herewith mentioned that anoflset or tongue portion, as thata't 35, may be provided upon the late end which carries the latch 33, said ,0 set portion, in the adjustment of the platef) upon the platen with the tongue 38 inserted in an apertureat the opposite end of the platen, being intended to ,h't snugly against the inner peripheral surface of the disk 25, to prevent. longitudinal movement of the-holder in its adjusted position. This offset or tongue portion 35, in assisting to localize the plate 5 upon the platen, enables the latch to become effective.

The bearing of the latches'20 will project outwardly upon the surface of the plate 5 to such an extent that the platcnlat this point could not pass against the usual feed rolls in either direction, but since this stencil or card work-piece holder is intended for use where an oscillating motion only ofthe platen is required, in whose range the latches aforesaid do not travel far enough, either backwardly or forwardly, to meet said feed rolls, the latter may remain on the machine A in order that when the worlepiece holder is removed from the platen, the machine is at all times ready for use with Work-sheets which require the usual feed rolls. lower portion of the work-piece holder, however, comprising its bar 9, may travel against the lower forward feed rolls in the backward turning of the platen to introduce the work-piece for writing the first line thereon,

and therefore said lower portion of the holder is caused toelie snuglyagainst. the

The i opposite end disks which are in longitudinal alinement, the plate 5 being, as stated, of a curved formation agreeing with the'contour of the cylindrical platen with which it is to be used, so that when seated upon said platen in the desired circumferential position, it Will be in true parallel relation with the platen with its engaging means in operative v arrangement.

Variations may be resorted towithin the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without othersl '1 I laving, thus described my invention, 1 c aim;

1. A holder for stencil, card, or other stifi Work-pieces comprising a plate to lie over a portion of the printing surface of a cylindrical platen, and having a cut-away portion for the receptionot a workpiece, means for detachably connecting said plate to the platenends, and a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to secure the workpiece against the platen surface. I

2. in a typewriting machine, the (zombi nation with a PlilllfiflyOf a holder for stencil, card, or other stiff work-pieces comprising a plate constructed to lie over a circumterem tially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate-having a cutaway portion for the reception of a work-piece, mcans-detachably connecting said plate to the platen ends, and

a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to secure the worn-piece against the platen surface. I

1 3. In a typewrit'ing machine, the combinatih'n with a platen, of a holder for stencil,

card, or other still work-pieces comprising a plate to lie over a circumferentially limit- "ed portion of the platen, said plate havin a cutaway portion for the reception 0 a work-piece, means detachahly connecting said plate to th'platen ends, a superposed hin ed clamp upon said plate to secure the worc-pieceto the platen, and spring fingers upon said clamp to engage said workpiece in advance of said clamp and to cause the workplace to lie snugly against the platen surface.

' 4. in a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other still work-pieces comprising a plate to lie over a circumferentiall i limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portion for the reception of a work-piece, means detachably connccting said plate to the platen ends, a hinged leaf or trame upon said plate having a cutaway portion to expose the'worlcpiece upon the platen, and spring lingers uponsaid leai or frame to engage said plate in advance of the leaf or frame in the closing of the latter upon the work-piece, whereby said spring fingers engage said work-piece tensionally,

to press and hold it snugly to the platen surface. I

6, ln typewriting machine, the oomph naticn with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other still worlepieccs con'iprising a plate to lie over a circumierentially lim ited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portion for the reception of a work-piece, means detachably connecting said plate to the platen ends, a leaf or frame upon said plate, its lower end having a connecting hinge forming a gage for the lower edge of the work-piece, said leaf or frame, having a cut-away portion to expose the work-piece and arranged to lie closely upon said plate to press the work-piece to the platen, and latches to engage said leaf or frame toward its upper end with the plate in a holding and locked position.-

7. In a typewriting machine, theeom bination with a platen, of ii holder for stencil, card, o'rot'her still work-pieces, compris-- ing a plate to lie over a circumterentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portion for the reception ofa work-piece, means detachably connecting said'plate to the platen ends, a leaf or f 'ame upon said plate, its lower end having a connecting hinge "forming a gage for the lower edge of the WOI'li'-1)l60, $illd leaf or frame having a cut-away portion to expose a work-piece and arranged to he closely upon said plate to press the workpiece to the platen, and spring-projected latches mounted .on the plate at opposite sides of the leaf or lraine to automatically engage and lock said leaf or frame when clo ed upon the plate.

8. in a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a holder foiujjtcncil,

card, or other llworkpieces comprisingel;

menses n plate to lie over a circumferentially limited portion of theplaten surface, said plate having a'cut-away portion for the reception of a work-piece,-means detachably connecting said plate to the platen ends and a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to hold the Work-piece to the platen, said clamp having upper' and outer-side marginal pora plate to lie over a circumferentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cutaway-portion for the reception of a work-piece, means detachahly connecting said plate to the platen ends, a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to hold the work-piece to the platen, said clamp having upper and outer-side marginal por tions to lie snugly upon said plate, and having lower and inner-side recessed portions to accommodate a relatively thick work piece and to lie against the surface of said Work-piece when said clamp is closed, and means for locking said clamp.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a holder for Stem cil, card, or other stiff work-pieces comprising a plate to lie over a circumferentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portion for the reception of a work-piece, disks at the opposite ends of the platen, said disks having each an annular series of apertures, and said plate having means at its opposite ends to respectively engage an aperture in opposite disks to secure the plate upon the platen, and a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to secure the work-piece to the platen surface.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other stifi' work-pieces comprising a plate to lie over a circumferentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portion for the reception of a work-piece, disks secured ateach end of the platen, each disk having an annular series of apertures, a tongue formed at one end of the plate to engage an aperture in a disk, a latch carried at the opposite end of said plate to engage an aperture in the opposite disk to thereby secure the plate upon the platen, and a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to secure the Workpiece against the platen surface.

12. In a typewriting machine, .the combination with a platen, of a holder for stencil,

card, or other stift' Work-pieces comprising a plate to lie over a circumferentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portion for the reception of a work-piece, a disk secured at each end of the platen over an intervening peripheral clearance, each of said disks having an an nular series of transverse apertures communicating with said clearance, a tongue upon the plate at one end, to enter any one of the apertures in a disk, a spring latch at the opposite end of said plate-to enter a corresponding aperture inthe opposite disk to aline the plate upon the platen and secure it thereto, and a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to secure the work-piece against the platen surface.

13. In a typewriting machine, the. combination with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other stiif work-pieces comprising a plate to lie over a circumferentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cutaway portion for the reception of a work-piece, a disk secured at each end of the plate over an intervening peripheral clearance, each of said disks having an annular series of transverse apertures communic'ating with said clearance, a tongue upon the plate at one end, to enter any one of the apertures in a disk, the opposite end of said plate being bent rearwardly, a spring latch supported in said bent end and adapted to.-

eno'age with an aperture in the opposite disk to aline the plate upon the platen and secure it thereto, and a superposed hinged clamp upon said plate to secure the workpiece against the platen surface.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a work-piece holder comprising a plate curved i an arc corresponding to a circumferentially linu ted por- 'tion ofthe platen and having a cut-away portion to expose the plated surface therethrough, a disk secured at each end of the platen having apertures in longitudinal alinement for said disks, and peripheral clearances between said platen ends and disks,said plate'hav ing a bent tongue at one end to engage through a clearance with an aperture in a disk at one end of the platen and the other end of the plate having a latch to engage with a longitudinally alined aperture in a disk at the other end of the platen, said plate also having an offset portion at its latching end to bind against the inner surface of thedisk through the clearance to localize the plate upon the platen for-its lock engagement,

15. In a typewriting machine, the 'combination with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card or other Work-pieces to lie along the platen surface, and disks at the opposite ends of the platen, said disks having each an annular series of apertures, and said holder having means at its opposite ends to respectively engage an aperture in opposite disks to secure the holder upon the platen.

lliel 16. In a typcvvriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a holder for stencil, -ard, or other work-pieces, 'nrnprising a plate adapted to lie own a circumferentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cutaway portion for the reception of a workpiece, means to secure the \vork-p'ece to the disks at the opposite ends of the platen, said disks having; each an annular series of apertures, and said plate having means at its oppcsite ends to respectively engage an aperture in rppcsitc disks to secure the plate upon the platen.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combinaticn with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other work-pieces to lie along the platen surl'ace, disks secured at each end of the platen, each disk having an annular series of apertures, a tongue formed at one end of the holder to engage an aperture in a disk, and a latch carried at the opposite end of said holder to engage an apertire in an opposite disk to thereby secure the lulder upon the platen. 18. In a typen'riting machine, the ermbinatirn with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other vvorl-i-picces, comprising a plate tov lie over a circumterentially limited porticn of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portion for the recepti n oi a work-piece, means for securing the work-piece against'the platen surface, disks secured at each end of the platen, each disk having an annular series of apertures, a t-rngue "formed at one end of the plate to engage an aperture in a disk, and a latch carried engage an aperture in an opposite disk to thereby secure the plate upcn the platen.

19. In a typewriting machine, the coinbinatir'n with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other work-pieces to lie along the platen surlace, a disk secured at each end of the platen eve an intervening peripheral clearance, each of said disks havplaten surface, and

ing, an annular series of transverse aper-e tures connnunicating with said clearance, a trngue upon the holder at one end to enter in any one of the apertures in a disk, and a latch at the opposite end of said plate to ente' a corresponding.aperture in the opposite disk to aline the holder upon the platen and secure it thereto. 7

20. In a typewriting machine, the combiat the opposite end of said plate to nation "1th a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other wink-pieces, comprising a plate to lie over a circuinterentially liniited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cut-away portirn for the re ception of a work-piece, means for securing the work-picce against the platen surface,a disk secured at each end of the platen over an intervening peripheral clearance, each of said disks having an annular series of transverse apertures communicating with said clearance, a tongue npen the plate at onecnd to enter in any of the apertures in a disk, and a spring latch at the opposite end of said plate to enter a corresprnding aperture in ,the opposite disk to aline the plate upcn the platen and secure it thereto 21. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a holder for stencil, card, or other work-pieces to lie along the platen, a disk secured at each end of the holder over an intervening peripheral clearance. each of said disks having an annular series of transverse apertures eo1nrnunicating with said clearance, a tongue upon the holder fit one end to enter any one of the apertures of a disk, the'opprsite end of said holder being, bent rearvvardly, and a spring latch supportel in said bent end to engage with an aperture in the rppesite disk to aline the holder upon the platen and secure it thereto.

.2 in a t pewnting machine, the cemhination with a platen, of a holder tor sten- V cil, card, or other wm-k-pieccs, comprisii'ig a plate adapted to lie over a circumterentially limited portion of the platen surface, said plate having a cutaway portion for the reception of a work-piece, means for securing the work-piece against the platen surface,

a disk secured at each end of the plate over an intervening peripheral clearance, each of said disks l'iaving an annular series of transverse apertures cmm'nunicating with said clearance, a tongue uprn the plate at one end to ent'er any ene of the apertures in a disk, the opposite end of said plate being bent reaiavardly, and a spring latch supported in said bent end to engage with an aperture in the opposite disk to aline the plate upon the platen and secure it thereto.

()OHNELIUS B. CORUURAN. Witnesses:

JrLiUs Docns'rms, F. 'E, Anerannnn. 

